Box-fastening.



No. 767,547. PATENTED AUG. 16, 1-904.

' W. H. DAVIS.

BOX FASTENING.

APPLIOATION FILED HA3. 6. 1903. RENEWED D120. 23, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented August 16, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

BOX-FASTENING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 767,547, dated August 16, 1904. Application filed March 6, 1903. Renewed December 23, 1903. Serial No. 186,411. (No model.)

To all 11/71/0712, it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM H. DAVIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Me- Pherson, in the county of McPherson and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Box-Fastening, of which the following is v a specification.

This invention relates to an apparatus for tightening encircling bands upon boxes and drawing them into position to be secured to the box end; and the object of the invention is to provide means for drawing an encircling box-band into position to bind the box and its cover firmly together and in position to be secured to the box end.

Other objects of the invention will appear in the annexed specification and be specified in the claims following.

In the drawings illustrative of the invention, in which corresponding parts are denoted by like designating characters, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus with a box shown thereon in dotted lines in position ready for the securing of the top thereto by an encircling band applied. Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of the upper part of the supporting-frame and rotating platform. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a box end with the improved fastening applied.

The supporting-frame may be constructed in any desired form, but preferably with reversely-disposed diagonal legs 10, supporting a horizontal table 11, as shown, the table provided with a transverse stop 12 at one end and oppositely-disposed recesses 13 adjacent to the stop, as shown.

Rotatively disposed, as by a pivot-pin 14:, upon the table 11, about centrally thereof, is a platform 15, preferably with spaced metal wear-strips 16 and with adjustable stops 17 18, as shown. The platform will preferably be provided with spaced radially-disposed bearing-rollers 19, as indicated in Fig. 3, to reduce the friction. The table 11 is provided with a longitudinal slot 9, in which the pivotpin 14 operates, so that the platform may be adjusted longitudinally of the table. The

platform is designed to support the box (indicated at 20) about which the band is to be drawn, and the platform will be adjusted so that the box will rest centrally upon the wearstrips 16, with the end about which the band is to be drawn extending over the supportingstop 12. It will be noted by reference to Fig. 3 that the stop-support 12 is of less height than the platform 15 and its strips 16, so that when the box is resting upon the strips a small space will be left for the insertion of the binding-band, indicated at 21.

The binding-band is formed of wire and will be endless or with its ends reversely entwined, as at 22, and will be greater in circumference than the box to which it is to be attached, as indicated in Fig. 1, wherein the band is shown encircling the box 20, with the surplus material above its cover 23, which will be the position it will occupy previous to its being fastened in place, as hereinafter shown.

Movably attached to the baseeframe 24E of the table-supports 10 is a foot-lever 25, from which a chain 26 leads upward through an aperture 27 in the table 11 in front of the stop 12, as shown, the aperture being preferably provided with a metal lining, such as gas-pipe, to prevent Wear upon the wooden table. Between the chain 26 and the lever 25 spaced straps 28 29 are movably connected, the chainlinks adapted to be connected between the free ends of the straps by a transverse pin 30 to provide a ready means for adj ustably coupling the chain to the lever, so that the hooks 31 upon its free end may be regulated to the size of the box.

When thus constructed, the operation is as follows: The platform 15 will be adjusted inthe slot 9 to conform to the length of the box to bring the strips 16 centrally thereof and with the end above the stop 12. One of the endless bands 21 is then placed over the box and drawn over the corners a short distance back from the end, a hammer or.other implement being employed to force the band to conform to some extent to the box with the surplus material above the cover 23, as indicated. When the box material is of soft wood, the wire band will make its own notches where it passes over the corners; but, if required, sawcuts may be formed where the wires pass over the corners to prevent slipping. The box, it will be noted, during this time rests upon the strips 16, leaving a space between the box and the stop 12 to provide for the free insertion of the band. The hooks 31 are then engaged with the band centrally of the surplus portion and the chain adjusted by the pin 30 relative to the lever 25, so that when power is applied to the lever the band will be stretched tightly around the box and its cover and the surplus material drawn down over the end of the box in position to be secured thereto, as by staples or other suitable fastening means, as indicated at 32. When the lever is operated, of course the box will be tilted down until stopped by the member 12, and after the staples or other fastenings are attached the lever and chain will be released, the box reversed in position by rotating it, together with its supporting-platform 15, and one of the bands applied to the opposite end in the same manner. By this simple means the boxes are very quickly supplied with binding-straps, which not only firmly bind the box sides and bottom together, but likewise provide a secure fastening means for the cover.

The longitudinally-movable platform 15, with its laterally-adjustable stops 17 18, together with the adjustable chain 26, enables the device to be readily adapted to boxes of various sizes and proportions, so that the same device may be employed for all the different sizes within the range of its adjustments. The recesses 13 provide means for ready access to the sides and lower corners of the boxes, if required, and will be found to be a very convenient adjunct to the device.

The framework and other parts may be of any required size or of any suitable material and may be adapted for the smaller sizes of boxes, such as cigar and similar boxes, or the largest packing cases or crates, and the wire bands will be manufactured in quantities and in corresponding sizes.

While the wire will be the preferable material for the bands 21, other material may be employed for this purpose for certain kinds of boxes or similar closuressuch as cord, rope, or the likeand I do not, therefore, wish to be limited to any specific material for this purpose. The bands will preferably be placed at a considerable distance from the ends of the boxes, as indicated in Fig. 3, to insure an increased length of the band over the corners, and thus correspondingly increase the holding force.

The parts may be modified in minor particulars without departing from the principle of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is-- 1. In an apparatus for tightening encircling bands on boxes, the combination of a supporting-frame for receiving a box, and means carried by the frame for forcibly drawing the band over the end of the box in position to be secured thereto.

2. In an apparatus for drawing into position and tightening encircling bands on boxes, the combination of a supporting-frame, a platform rotativel y mounted upon said frame and adapted to support a box, and means operative from said frame for drawing the band over the end of the box in position to be secured thereto.

3. In an apparatus for drawing into position and tightening encircling bands on boxes, the combination of a supporting-frame for a box, a foot-lever movably mounted on said frame, and means connected with said lever and adapted to engage the band to forcibly draw it down over the end. of the box in posi tion to be secured thereto.

4:. In an apparatus for drawing into posi tion and tightening encircling bands on boxes, the combination of a supporting-table having oppositely-disposed recesses near one end thereof, box-supporting means spaced from said table and disposed adjacent to said recesses, and means carried by said frame adapted to engage and draw the band on the box over the end thereof in position to be connected thereto.

5. In an apparatus for drawing into posi- 'tion and tightening encircling bands on boxes, the combination of a supporting-table, a platform mounted rotatively upon said table, a transverse support arranged upon said table and spaced from said platform and coacting with the platform to support a box, said support being of less height than the platform, and means carried by said table-support for engaging and drawing the encircling band over the box end in position to be secured thereto.

6. In an apparatus for drawing into position and tightening encircling bands on boxes, the combination of a supporting-frame, a platform rotatively mounted upon said frame, adjustable box-guides mounted on said platform and means operative from said frame for engaging and drawing the encircling band over the end of the box.

7 In an apparatus for drawing into position and tightening an encircling band on a box, the combination of a supporting-table having a longitudinally-disposed slot therein, a platform having a pivot pin extending through said slot for rotative and longitudinal movement upon the table, and means operative from said frame for engaging the encircling band and drawing it over the end of the box.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

VVILLIAM H. DA VIS.

Witnesses:

S. S. ARMsTRoNe, H. B. KIJIEWEN. 

